Nigeria's Johannesburg Consulate Demands Probe Into Deaths of Three Citizens in South Africa

Nigeria's diplomatic mission in Johannesburg wants South African law enforcement to look into how three of its nationals lost their lives in distinct episodes, and to make sure culprits answer for their actions.

The Consul-General, Amb. Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, issued the demand in a statement released on Monday, asking the host country's authorities to determine what happened in each case and to see that justice is served against those behind the killings.

Named as the deceased are Kenechukwu Igwemmadu, Olaniyi Olatunde and Christian Nnaemeka. Their deaths were recorded over a four-day stretch running from September 18 to 21, a period that has revived anxiety about how Nigerians are faring in South Africa.

The first of the three, Igwemmadu, is said to have died on September 18. According to the Consul-General's account, he leapt from a building in an attempt to get away from what she described as harassment and brutality by police officers at Kenlin Court on Douglas Street in Bloemfontein.

Two days afterwards, Olatunde, who worked as a security guard, was allegedly gunned down by a South African whose identity is not yet known. The shooting is said to have followed a quarrel over a cup linked to Spanata Bar and Grills Night Club in Mamelodi East, Pretoria.

Wounded by the gunfire, Olatunde was rushed to Mamelodi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on September 21. The suspected gunman, according to the statement, came back to the club afterwards and issued threats against people who had witnessed the incident before making his exit.

In a separate episode, Nnaemeka is reported to have died on September 21 in Primrose, Ekurhuleni, after what the Consul-General described as an encounter with South African politician and investigative content creator Xolani Khumalo and members of his Sizok'thola team.

Okey-Uche alleged that Nnaemeka was beaten and tortured during that encounter and tried to flee. She said, "he (Nnaemeka) was reported to have collapsed from his injuries and exhaustion, and later pronounced dead after being taken to hospital."

The Consul-General also brought up the case of Emeka Uzor, another Nigerian whose reported death came on February 9 during an encounter with Khumalo's reality television crew in Windsor East, Randburg. She noted that nobody has been arrested over Uzor's death.

"The recent deaths raise concerns about the treatment and security of Nigerians, and other Africans in South Africa, amid xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks, threats and other forms of ill-treatment," she said.

"All lives matter. Allegations must be handled through due process, with suspects presumed innocent and given opportunity to defend themselves in court," she added.

While urging Nigerians living in South Africa to stay calm, obey the law and keep their personal safety in mind, Okey-Uche gave an assurance that the mission will keep working to protect the interests, welfare and fair treatment of Nigerian nationals in the country.

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